Health & Safety Inductions

22nd April 2026

Protect Staff and Volunteers from Day One

Starting a new role is an exciting time, but it is also when staff and volunteers are most vulnerable to risk. Evidence shows that new staff are just as likely to have an accident in their first six months of work as they are during the rest of their working life combined.

This heightened risk often comes down to a lack of experience, unfamiliarity with the workplace, and a natural eagerness to make a good impression. Together, these factors can result in hazards being missed, concerns going unraised, or rules being misunderstood or unintentionally ignored.

For organisations, this highlights the crucial role that effective health and safety inductions play in supporting new staff and volunteers from day one.

Why new starters are more at risk

Staff who are new to an organisation may face increased risk because they:

• have limited experience in a new role, sector, or environment
• are unfamiliar with workplace layouts, equipment, or processes
• may be unsure how to raise health and safety concerns
• want to impress colleagues and managers, leading to “cutting corners”

As a result, new staff may not yet:

• recognise hazards as potential sources of harm
• understand what might seem like ‘obvious’ rules to more experienced colleagues
• know where risks change from day to day, such as in busy or shared spaces
• feel confident stopping work or asking questions if something doesn’t feel right

A strong, well‑planned induction can make a significant difference in reducing these risks.

HSE’s six-step approach to protecting new starts

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends a six‑step approach to help organisations protect new staff and volunteers. Below is a brief overview of each step and how it can be applied in practice.

1. Assess competence

Before work begins, assess the new starter’s competence and capabilities. This may include:

• literacy and numeracy levels
• general health and physical capability
• relevant experience and training
• familiarity with the work environment, especially where conditions change quickly

It’s also important to consider cultural factors and a person’s grasp of English, where relevant. In some cases, visual tools such as pictures, signage, or videos may be more effective than written materials.

2. Provide a clear induction

A health and safety induction should be carefully planned and delivered in plain, accessible language. Wherever possible, include photos of hazards and real examples from your setting.

Time should be set aside to walk around the workplace with new staff or volunteers, pointing out key risks such as slips, trips, falls, or moving equipment. Inductions should always cover emergency procedures, including fire exits, evacuation routes, alarm points, and muster points.

3. Review control measures

Control measures designed to reduce risk should be up to date, understood, and in active use. This includes:

• discussing risks with employees and health and safety representatives
• reinforcing the importance of reporting accidents, incidents, and near misses
• putting health surveillance arrangements in place where required
• providing suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensuring it is maintained

New starters should understand not just what the controls are, but why they matter.

4. Share information and training

New staff must receive relevant information, instruction, and training about the risks they may be exposed to and the precautions needed to work safely. Training should be appropriate to the role and revisited if duties or environments change.

5. Ensure adequate supervision

Supervision is particularly important in the early days and weeks. New starters may be hesitant to raise concerns, especially if they are unsure of processes or worried about “getting it wrong”.

Supervisors should actively check in, encourage questions, and create a culture where speaking up about safety is welcomed and supported.

6. Check understanding

Finally, take time to confirm that new staff and volunteers have understood the information and training provided, and that they are applying it in practice.

Make sure they know:

• who to speak to about health and safety
• how to raise concerns or report issues
• what to do in an emergency

This step is vital during early employment, when good habits and confidence are still forming.

Supporting people to work safely from day one protects individuals, strengthens organisations, and helps create safer workplaces.

We also offer a wide range of health and safety related staff training with discounts for members and subscribers. Browse the latest dates on our website:

This content was written by our team, with AI tools used only to support review and refinement.